Adjustable lens mount



Oct. 7, 1947. o. R. NEMETH ADJUSTABLE LENS MOUNT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 16, 1944 INVENTOIL I j 0m J? Adana/1 ATT Oct. 7, 1947. o. R. NEMETH ADJUSTABLE LENS MOUNT A 2,42sg719 Filed Sept. 16, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 7, 1947 ADJ USTABLE-LENS MOUNT OttoR. Nemeth, Chicago, Ill., assigner, by mesnc assignments, to Helene Curtis Industries, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Application September 16, 1944, Serial No. 554,358

2 claims. (ci. ss-s'i) This invention relatesto improvements in the v mounting of lenses, and more especially lenses that must be adjusted on more or less frequent occasions to secure proper focusing.

An important object of the present invention is to provide improved means for effecting ultrane focusing adjustment of a lens unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved lens supporting means adapted to permit both coarse and ultra-fine focusing ad- Justments.

Still another object of the invention is to provide novel lens focusing means adapted to elect adjustment movement of a lens unit in respective opposite directions by manipulation of a manual adjustment device in but one direction.

A further object is to provide improved means for adjusting a lens unit selectively in opposite directions without mechanical slack, pause or dwell in the transition between the opposite adjustment movements.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying two sheets of drawings illustrating a certain preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lens mount including the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig.' 3 is a vertical sectional view through the lens mount taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, but showing the parts in a, different operative relationship.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the lens mount taken substantially in the .plane of line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

My invention has utility in various environments wherein a, lens unit must be critically focused with respect to a point or surface in front of the lens. By way of example may be mentioned motion picture or still picture projection apparatus, cameras, microscopes, telescopes, etc.

Having more particular reference to the draw-` ings, a typical unit embodying the features of the invention includes a lens support I of any preferred specific construction including a tubular eye II adapted to receive a freely slidable and preferably slightly longer sleeve I2 internally dimensloned for slidably embracing a lens unit tube I3. The supporting member I0 may conveniently be formed as a casting having tapped bosses I4 projecting from one side of the eye II for engagement with the supporting structure of an apparatus (not shown) for attachment thereto by means of bolts threaded into the bosses.

Major or coarse adjustment of the lens, that is adjustment movement of the lens unit by relatively large steps, to attain the general focal range vis accomplished by sliding the lens tube I3 forwardly or rearwardly within the sleeve I2. Extremely fine degrees or shades of critical adjustment are accomplished bylongitudlnal movement of the sleeve I2 within the eye II. In addition relatively rapid adjustment of the lens in between the coarse and the fine adjustment may be enabled by a relatively coarse pitch threading of the lens tube I3.

According to the present invention, longitudinal shifting of the sleeve I2 either forwardly or rearwardly for fine focusing adjustment of the y lens is accomplished by means which is adapted to effect a full cycle of adjustment shifting in response to movement in but one direction. In a preferred form such means comprises a knob I5 which is rotatably mounted within a bore II extending radially through preferably the longitudinal center of the eye I I and an integral knob- -supporting boss I8 projecting radially outwardly from the eye. Means for holding the knob against axial displacement from the bore Il may comprise a retaining pin I9 which is received within a bore 20 cutting through on the chord of the bore I1 and engaging within an annular groove 2I in the reduced diameter shank of the knob within the bore I1. This arrangement enables free rotation of the knob I5 continuously clockwise or counterclockwise as preferred.

For adjustment movement of the sleeve I2 by rotation of the knob I5 an eccentric cylindrical boss 22 projecting from the inner end of the knob shank ls received within a follower recess or socket 23 in the wall of the sleeve I2. In the present instance the socket 23 is simply a circular perforation 0f a diameter to receive the eccentric 2'2 closely but to enable free, smooth rotation of the eccentric within the perforation while traveling afcircular orbit about the axis, identified at X in Fig. Ll, of the knob I5 during rotation of the knob. As a result, each 360 rotationof the knob I5 carries the eccentric 22 through a complete orbit and effects movement of the lens-carrying sleeve I2 longitudinally throughout a reciprocal fine adjustment range between forward and rearward limits. As it is shown in Fig. 2, the eccentric 22 is in a position wherein the sleeve I2 is at Its rearward limit of adjustment, while in Fig. 3 the eccentric is in one of its half way positions, that is, it has the sleeve I2 at the midpoint, as indicated in full line in Fig. 4, between the cxtreme rearward and forward positions of adjustment as respectively indicated in broken outlines. While moving the sleeve longitudinally, the eccentric 22 also incidentally oscillates the tube slightly, but such oscillation is Without any detriment to focusing of the lens because it Is strictlyon, and Without any deviations from, the opticalaxis of the lens. l

A very important advantage of my continuous orbit rotary eccentric adjustment of the lens `ward or return adjustment movement of the sleeve I2 relative to the knob. This results from the continuous driving engagement of the eccentric 22 with the bearing wall dening the socket 23 without any disengagement, overrun or underrun, or clearance slack such as is presentin every screw type of adjustment even when of micrometer dimensions. Moreover, the adjustment can be effected easier and more smoothly because of the unusual freedom from such drag as is encountered in a screw adjustment. Extreme accuracy of adjustment is thus greatly facilitated.

The intermediate but relatively coarse screw adjustment of the lens is effected herein yby the engagement of a wide semi-circular coarse pitch thread 24 on the periphery of the lens tube I3 with an element 25 which protrudes inwardly of the sleeve I2 into the thread. Herein the thread engaging element 25 advantageously comprises a detent extending axially from the eccentric 22. For this purpose the knob I is formed with an eccentric bore 21 concentric with the eccentric 22 withinwhich the detent 25 is yieldably slidable within limits defined by a detent head 28 and a, compression spring 29 which is held under compression by a retaining screw 30 threaded into the outer end of the bore 21. Throughthis ar` rangement coarse longitudinal adjustment of ,the lens tube I3 is enabled in response .to longitudinal sliding force applied to the tube suillcient to eect resilient retraction of the detent 25 and camming thereof over the crests of the threads 24, the,

of the lens tube I3 once established lwill remain.

undisturbed throughout orbital movement of the eccentric 22 when effecting fine focusing adjustment of the lens. Hence he lens tube I3 and the carrying sleeve I2 will emain in relatively fixed adjustment during adjustment movement of the sleeve.

While I have illustrated and described a certain Resistance of appended claims.

preferred embodiment oi' my invention, it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit my invention to the specilcydetails dlsclosed, but contemplate tigt certain modifica.- tions, substitutions, and alternative constructions may be-eilected without departing rom the spirit and lscope v,of the invention as `eilned in the v1. In combination in a lens mount, a supporting member having a tubular eye, a lens-carrying tube slidably mounted in said eye, a lens-carrying structure slidable in said tube, said tube having a radial socketopening through its periphery, a digitally manipulable rotary member carried by said supporting-member and having an eccentric engageable within said-socket for effecting longitudinal adjustment of said tube by rotation of the rotary member, and means on said rotary member engaging'with the lens-carrying.structure for effecting adjustment thereof in unison with adjustment of said tube.

2. In combination in a lens mount, a supporting member having atubular eye, a lens-carrying tube slidably mounted in said eye, a lenscarrying structure slidable in said tube, said tube` having a radial socketopening thr'ofugh its periphery, a digitally manipulable rotary member carried by said supporting member and having an eccentric engageable withinsaid socket for effecting longitudinal adjustment of said tube by rotation of the rotary member, and means on said rotaiy. member engagingv with the lens-carrying structure for 'effecting adjustment thereofin unison with adjustment of said tube, said last named means being yieldabie to enable longitudinal adjustment of the lens-carrying structure relative to wid tube.

o'rro a. NEME'IH.

REFERENCES c rran The following references are of record in the -le of this patent:v

UNrrE sTA'rEs .PATNTS Number Lauhe et al May 10, 1938 Killinan etal Aug. 30, 1938 Mihalyi Apr. 14, 1942 Joannides Apr. 17, 1934.- 

